Chair



p 13, 1933- c. H. OERMANN 2,130,022

CHAIR Filed July 20, 1957 Fig.4-

I 7 0 Q 33 Q) P Q CARL H. OERMANN Fig. 2

attorney Patented Sept. 13, 1938 PTENT OFFEQE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to resilient seat structures.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved seat structure having an elastic frame formed from spring members so that a seat member may move rearwardly and forwardly in the manner of a rocking chair.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved seat structure having ovoid-shaped side members adapted to support the back and seat frames of the device, the side members in turn being supported by a pair of bars having front and rear feet and an intermediate portion spaced from the floor and shaped in such manner as to flexibly support the super structure of the device.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in View, the invention consists in the preferred construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective of a chair embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear elevation of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1, showing the manner in which the back frame is connected to a side member;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a detail View partly in section showing the manner in which the front portion of theseat frame is connected to a side member.

Referring to the drawing, the base portion of the seat structure comprises a pair of spring bars I I located along the sides of the device.

Each bar H has a front floor engaging portion or foot l2, and a rear floor engaging portion or foot [3, said feet being spaced a suitable distance apart from front to rear, preferably a distance slightly greater than the length of the seat, so as to enhance the stability of the device and prevent tilting thereof forwardly and rearwardly by an occupant.

The bars ll, except for the portions forming the feet l2 and i3, are in spaced relation with the floor. Between the front and rear feet, the bars H are curved gradually upwardly from the front feet I2 for a distance substantially equal to the distance between the front and rear feet or floor engaging portions of the device. At the rear the bars are bent around, as indicated at M, and thence extend downwardly and forwardly. The portion i4 is to the rear of the feet i3. The construction of the bars H is such as to provide elastic means for flexibly supporting the seat structure.

In order to prevent spreading of the feet 12 and 13, the front feet i2 are connected by a cross bar l5 and the rear feet i3 are connected by a cross bar I5. The cross bars l5 and G6 are in turn connected by straps ll. These straps prevent relative movement of the cross bars l5 and I5, and consequently the feet 12 and I3 are retained in position on the floor, even when the chair is occupied.

Each of the bars ii supports a side member l8 formed preferably from a single length of bar metal bent somewhat in the form of an ovoid or egg.

From one end IS, the bar l8 extends downwardly and forwardly, as indicated at 20, gradually increasing in curvature towards the lower portion of the side member. At the lower portion the bar i8 is rounded to form a nose 2|. From the nose 2| the bar is curved upwardly and forwardly, as indicated at 22, and thence said bar is curved rearwardly in a gradual curve 23, which terminates at an end 24.

The portion of the member 58 constitutes the rear portion of the side member. The portion of the side member l8 rearwardly from the nose 2! constitutes the main supporting portion of said member and this portion is secured to the bar I! at a point adjacent the front foot l2 by suitable securing elements, such as rivets 25. The portion 22 functions as a front leg, and such portion is adapted to support the front portion of the seat structure, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The portion 23 functions as an arm rest, and if so desired an arm rest member 21 of suitable form may be mounted thereon. The two ends l9 and 24 are secured to a bracket 28 by rivets 29, as shown in Fig. 3.

The back frame structure comprises a frame consisting of side bars 30, an upper cross bar 3! and a lower cross bar 32.

At a point intermediate of the back frame, each side bar 303 carries a laterally projecting threaded stud 33 which is inserted in an opening formed between the bracket 28 and the adjoining end portion of the side member l8, as shown in Fig. 3. A nut 34 mounted on the end of the stud 33 secures the side bar 38 to the side member H8.

The seat frame structure is a continuation of the back frame and comprises side bars 35 which are connected at their rear ends to the lower ends of the back bars 30, as indicated at 36.

The front portions of the side bars 35 are connected to the portions 22 of the members l8, by a bracket 31 (see Fig. 4).

The front ends of the side bars 35 are connected by a cross bar 38.

If so desired, the portions and 3| of the back frame and the portions and 38 of the seat frame, may each be formed of a single bar bent in the form of a U, the free ends of the bars being riveted together, as indicated at 35.

Any form of back andseat supporting means may be employed. In the present instance the side bars of both the back frame and the seat frame are spanned by a plurality of thin metal straps 40, the ends of said straps being spaced from the side bars and being connected thereto by stiff coil springs 4|. The straps 40 are disposed at suitable intervals throughout the length of the back frame and the seat frame and provide means for supporting a back cushion 42 and a seat cushion 43, as shown in Fig. 1.

The sides l8 are constructed of relatively stiff metal bars, and, therefore, are not adapted to flex when the chair is occupied. On account of the manner in which the sides I 8 are mounted on the bars II and secured thereto, the bars H will flex under the weight of an occupant of the chair, and in so doing, the super structure will tilt rearwardly and forwardly, simulating the motions of a rocking chair.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Seat structure comprising a pair of supporting bars, each having a front foot and a rear foot with the portion of the bar between said feet curved gradually upwardly from the front foot rearwardly and at the rear bent around and thence downwardly and forwardly towards the rear foot, a pair of side members of ovoid shape having a lower apex portion resting on said bars and connected thereto at a point adjacent to the front feet, a back frame connected intermediate its length to the upper rear portion of said side members, and a seat frame extending forwardly from the back and connected at its front end to the front portion of said side members.

2. Seat structure comprising a pair of supporting bars, each having a front foot and a rear foot with the portion of the bar between said feet curved gradually upwardly from the front foot rearwardly and at the rear bent around and thence downwardly and forwardly towards the rear foot, a pair of side members of ovoid shape having a lower apex portion resting on said bars and connected thereto at a point adjacent to the front feet, a back frame connected intermediate its length to the upper rear portion of said side members, and a seat frame extending forwardly from the back and connected at its front end to the front portion of said side members, the front portions of said side members between the point at which the seat frame is connected thereto and the upper rear portion thereof being shaped to form arm rests.

3. Seat supporting structure comprising a pair of resilient bars, each having a front foot and a rear foot with an intermediate portion between said feet curved gradually upwardly from the front foot rearwardly and then at the rear bent around and thence downwardly and forwardly towards the rear foot, said bent around portion of the bars overlying the rear feet, a pair of rigid side members of ovoid shape having a lower nose portion resting on said bars and connected thereto adjacent the front feet portion thereof, a back frame structure connected intermediate its length to the upper rear portion of said side members, and a seat structure extending forwardly from the back and connected at its front end to the intermediate front portion of said side members.

4. Seat supporting structure comprising a pair of bars, each having a front foot, a rear foot, and an intermediate portion curved upwardly from the front foot, the entire portion of said bars between the front and rear feet being spacedabove the floor, side members superposed upon the bars and fixed thereto near the front ends thereof, each of said side members being constructed from a single length of metal bent substantially in the form of an ovoid and having its ends connected and disposed at the upper rear portion of the side members, a back frame connected intermediate its length to the connected end portion of the side members, and a seat frame extending forwardly from the back frame and connected at its front end to the front portion of said side members.

CARL H. OERMANN. 

